Four days after East Carolina’s Pro Day, the Panthers took a closer look at wideout Justin Hardy. Carolina put the NCAA’s all-time receptions leader through a private workout Monday in Greenville, a session that went “very well” according to a source.
Hardy was impressive during a rainy Pirates’ Pro Day last week, showcasing his dependable hands and running a 4.4 40-yard dash. But since that came on an indoor track, teams will likely consider the 4.56 he ran at February’s combine as a better indicator of his speed.The 5-foot-10, 192-pounder isn’t a burner, and there are concerns about the limited routes he ran while putting up big numbers in ECU’s up-tempo spread offense. But a Panthers’ source indicated the team is high on Hardy’s ability to get himself open and make tough catches in traffic.Hardy, a Vanceboro, N.C. native, is hoping someone will grab him on the draft’s second day, in either the second or third round. The Panthers have nine picks, one in each round, and two additional comp selections near the end of the fifth.
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[feature_headline type=”center” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″ icon=”video-camera”]ECU PRO DAY
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Hardy just doesn’t have what the Panthers need, great speed, and size in a #2WR. Tre McBride is in the same draft range as Hardy, and is far superior to him, though I would take Chris Conley over both of them. Here is how they compare to one another, including my 2nd choice at WR Darren Waller (because he could also play TE).
I’ve watched the young man play and put up numbers that made him the all time receptions leader in the ncaa. The man has incredible hands, huge hands and makes the most difficult catch look routine. He is a playmaker. Ginn can bring the speed and if they can get Greg Jennings he would be a good compliment to Benjamin. They are going to get a wr at some point in the draft. It depends on who is available at the time they select. It put up great numbers . Not too shabby for a former walkon.
Panthers/Truth
Hardy is a possession receiver, only slightly faster than Benjamin, and they need a speedy WR to go with Benjamin, while the same goes for Greg Jennings. Ginn is just a backup #4 WR, not the starting WR they need.
Jason Alston
Thanks for trying to keep it real Panthers/Truth, what’s going on here of course is typical local overrating. I’ve seen people comparing Justin Hardy to Jerry Rice. The absurdity has gotten knee deep with this receiver and people’s expectations of him (the same can be said about Crowder from Duke). He will have a solid career, he won’t be a total whiff like Armanti Edwards. But you’re going to have some very foolish looking East Carolina fans five years from now.
Adam Stayton
What wr outside of Amari cooper do you think they could draft and would start immediately. They aren’t getting cooper unless they move up in the draft. It’s a low risk high reward pick to draft a wr like hardy on the 2nd day. I’m not saying draft him in the 1st but wouldnt you rather have him on your team making plays and he can also return kicks and punts than Potentially go to a rival and make plays for years to come rubbing it in our face that we didn’t draft him. Who knows what happens. I’m just saying it’s not a complete waste of a pick to draft the ncaa all time receptions leader.
ToArrrrisPirate
Hardy is EXACTLY what the Panthers need. The guy catches literally every single pass thrown his way. I mean EVERYTHING. I can remember him dropping 2 passes last season. So yeah if we don’t need a sure handed receiver that can demand double teams over the middle then there are about 20 other guys they can pick. Rest assured who ever picks up Hardy will have a receiver that will be a Pro Bowl caliber player. I don’t care if you run a 4.25 or a 4.55, if you can catch the damn ball is all that matters. And in this draft there isn’t a single receiver that can do it better than Justin Hardy.
Panthers/Truth
Hardy just doesn’t have what the Panthers need, great speed, and size in a #2WR. Tre McBride is in the same draft range as Hardy, and is far superior to him, though I would take Chris Conley over both of them. Here is how they compare to one another, including my 2nd choice at WR Darren Waller (because he could also play TE).
I’ve watched the young man play and put up numbers that made him the all time receptions leader in the ncaa. The man has incredible hands, huge hands and makes the most difficult catch look routine. He is a playmaker. Ginn can bring the speed and if they can get Greg Jennings he would be a good compliment to Benjamin. They are going to get a wr at some point in the draft. It depends on who is available at the time they select. It put up great numbers . Not too shabby for a former walkon.
Panthers/Truth
Hardy is a possession receiver, only slightly faster than Benjamin, and they need a speedy WR to go with Benjamin, while the same goes for Greg Jennings. Ginn is just a backup #4 WR, not the starting WR they need.
Jason Alston
Thanks for trying to keep it real Panthers/Truth, what’s going on here of course is typical local overrating. I’ve seen people comparing Justin Hardy to Jerry Rice. The absurdity has gotten knee deep with this receiver and people’s expectations of him (the same can be said about Crowder from Duke). He will have a solid career, he won’t be a total whiff like Armanti Edwards. But you’re going to have some very foolish looking East Carolina fans five years from now.
Adam Stayton
What wr outside of Amari cooper do you think they could draft and would start immediately. They aren’t getting cooper unless they move up in the draft. It’s a low risk high reward pick to draft a wr like hardy on the 2nd day. I’m not saying draft him in the 1st but wouldnt you rather have him on your team making plays and he can also return kicks and punts than Potentially go to a rival and make plays for years to come rubbing it in our face that we didn’t draft him. Who knows what happens. I’m just saying it’s not a complete waste of a pick to draft the ncaa all time receptions leader.
ToArrrrisPirate
Hardy is EXACTLY what the Panthers need. The guy catches literally every single pass thrown his way. I mean EVERYTHING. I can remember him dropping 2 passes last season. So yeah if we don’t need a sure handed receiver that can demand double teams over the middle then there are about 20 other guys they can pick. Rest assured who ever picks up Hardy will have a receiver that will be a Pro Bowl caliber player. I don’t care if you run a 4.25 or a 4.55, if you can catch the damn ball is all that matters. And in this draft there isn’t a single receiver that can do it better than Justin Hardy.